Dorian Warren is an activist, scholar of labor politics and professor at Columbia University. Prior, he worked with several organizations, including the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, American Rights at Work/Jobs with Justice and the NGLTF Policy Institute.

He currently serves on the boards of the Applied Research Center, Center for Community Change, ALIGN, the Model Alliance, the Discount Foundation and The Nation Magazine Editorial Board.

Warren is a sought-after commentator who has been made frequent appearances on networks such as MSNBC, ABC, CNN, NPR and Bloomberg. In January, he was one of two political contributors for BET’s Inauguration coverage.

Warren received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and his masters and Ph.D. from Yale. He has taught at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago, and has received research fellowships and grants from the Ford Foundation, CUNY’s Murphy Institute, the Public Welfare Foundation and the Russell Sage Foundation.

Warren and his older brother were born and raised in the South Side of Chicago by a single mother, who was an elementary school teacher. She was an active member of the Chicago Teachers Union and walked many picket lines during her career.

Why is he on theGrio’s 100?

Warren is associate professor in the Department of Political Science, the School of International and Public Affairs, and the Institute for Research in African-American Studies at Columbia University. He is also a Fellow at the Roosevelt Institute.

He specializes in the study of inequality and American politics. His research and teaching include labor organizing & politics, race and ethnic politics, community organizing and social movements.

The 36-year-old has a unique perspective. Though an Ivory League professor, he continues grass-roots activism with unions and community organizations.

What next for Warren?

With his telegenic good looks, expect to see a lot more of Warren on-air this year. He has several special projects lined up with BET Networks, as well as his regular slots on MSNBC and other major television networks.

Later this year, he is will publish a major volume, written with Virginia Parks, called Boxing Out: Race, Walmart and the Politics of Labor Market Regulation from Below.”